Comparison of intraocular pressure post penetrating keratoplasty vs Descemet's stripping endothelial keratoplasty.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of Descemet's stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK) with penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) on intraocular pressure (IOP) and use of ocular antihypertensives.

DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study.

PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-five eyes in 33 patients undergoing PKP and 43 eyes in 38 patients undergoing DSEK were included in the analysis. Fifteen eyes undergoing PKP and 12 undergoing DSEK had diagnosed glaucoma. Patients undergoing corneal transplant because of trauma, keratoconus, pellucid marginal degeneration, or prior failed transplant were excluded.

METHODS: Charts were obtained for all patients who underwent PKP or DSEK by a single surgeon at the Ivey Eye Institute between 2003 and 2010. IOP and all IOP-lowering medications were recorded preoperatively and at 1, 4, 8, 12, and 24 weeks postoperatively. Complications, graft survival, and glaucoma surgeries were noted.

RESULTS: There was no significant difference in preoperative IOP between the 2 groups (p = 0.30). Postoperatively, IOP was significantly higher in the PKP group at 1 week (p < 0.01), 4 weeks (p < 0.01), and 8 and 12 weeks (p < 0.05), but not at 24 weeks (p = 0.62). Mean IOP increased significantly post-transplant in all groups (p < 0.05). In patients without glaucoma, postoperative IOP elevation requiring treatment occurred in 68% of PKP eyes and 23% of DSEK eyes. In patients with prior glaucoma, an increased requirement for ocular antihypertensives occurred in 60% of PKP eyes and 20% of DSEK eyes. Three trabeculectomies and 1 tube shunt were performed in the cohort with glaucoma undergoing PKP. No glaucoma surgery was required in the DSEK cohort.

CONCLUSIONS: Elevation of IOP requiring treatment occurred at a lower rate after DSEK compared with PKP. This difference was significant during the early postoperative course but nonsignificant at 24 weeks. Additional long-term studies on the effect of DSEK on glaucoma and IOP control are warranted.